TROY >> While the City Council passed a resolution requesting an external investigation into the Kokopellis incident from an agency outside of the city during its regular monthly meeting Thursday night, some of its members wondered exactly what the point of the measure was.

Although none of the council members disagree with having an external investigation conducted, some felt that the recent acknowledgement of a similar request from the Troy African-American Pastoral Alliance by United States Department of Justice was sufficient evidence that an outside agency is taking the matter into consideration.

While the legislation was first introduced during Wednesday night’s Public Safety Committee meeting, some council members commented that they were seeing the resolution for the first time Thursday night. Its passage allows the council to request the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s office to help the city find an outside agency, such as a neighboring county district attorney’s office, to investigate the events surrounding the Jan. 25 incident at Kokopellis Night Club.

Advertisement

Public Safety Committee chairman Bob Doherty, D-District 4, did say, though, that if the DOJ did conduct an investigation, the requirements set forth by the resolution would be satisfied.

Still, Galuski said after having a conversation with Chief John Tedesco that the DOJ currently has an open file on the incident and is reviewing whether it would go forward with an investigation.

City Council President Rodney Wiltshre said Tedesco had said the status with the DOJ was uncertain and it could take years.

The council approved the resolution in a 6-3 vote with members Erin Sullivan-Teta (D-At Large), Lynn Kopka (D-At Large), and Galuski voting against.

Although part of the resolution encourages Mayor Lou Rosamilia to write a letter in support of an external investigation, he didn’t exactly indicate that he would do so.

Rosamilia has publicly welcomed an external investigation into the incident and said the city would cooperate with any outside agency looking into the situation.

And while Rosamilia agreed that the county DA’s office is an independent authority, he said it doesn’t need to be asked to perform an investigation and that the resolution isn’t exactly binding.

“I don’t see anything in the legislation ensuring an investigation,” Rosamilia said. “I want to go back to the DOJ because I truly believe there will be some investigation.”